Maternal alcohol use and infant development.

A prospective controlled study of the effect of fetal alcohol on infant development was performed. Twelve infants were identified as possibly having fetal alcohol effects based on the maternal history of alcohol abuse and the neonatal physical examination. Physical characteristics, growth, and development of these infants were compared with those of 12 control infants at birth and at a mean age of 12 months; control infants were matched for gestational age, sex, and race. Data were evaluated by descriptive statistics and analysis of differences between matched pairs of study and control infants. The results showed a significant correlation between the history of heavy antenatal maternal alcohol use and delayed mental and motor development, physical abnormalities, and growth retardation in the infants. This study suggests that infants with fetal alcohol effects can be correctly classified at birth and their outcome accurately predicted.